Sunset magazine now owns Cornerstone Sonoma (town of Sonoma, CA) and they plan on using it for their test gardens. The Cornerstone Gardens showcase an ever-changing series of gardens with innovative designs from international and local landscape architects and designers. It’s a wonderful place to visit and is free to the general public. I sketched this dormer that was originally from Carnegie Hall. How it made it here is any body’s guess.

Westerbeke Ranch is a hidden gem located a few miles west of the city of Sonoma. Used primarily for retreats and conferences, the property delights guests with its lush gardens and meandering paths amid native oaks. Of particular interest are the metal sculptures scattered across the property that were collected by owners Richard and Muriel Van Hoosear while traveling in Mexico and Spain.

I chose to sketch one of the many guest cottages nestled amongst towering oaks. Many thanks to the Westerbeke Ranch’s staff for inviting our Ready, Set, Sketch! group for the day.

If you’re ever in the vicinity of Sonoma, make sure to check out CornerStone along Highway 121. Or better yet, plan ahead and make a day of it. Explore the 20 different innovative garden installations, each with a different theme designed by acclaimed landscape architects and garden designers. Inspired by the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire in France, the gardens include plants, trees, water features, and sculptural elements.

After a stroll though the gardens, enjoy lunch at the café with organic locally-sourced fair, wine tasting rooms, art galleries, and garden gift shops. Oh, and don’t miss climbing into the seat of the Big Blue Chair at the entrance. It’s impossible to miss with its large size and blue color, but just incase you do, there’s a tiny sign pointing right next to it.

Last month the Ready, Set Sketch group met in the town of Sonoma, CA. This is my unfinished sketch from that day looking east on the downtown plaza.